Where is the best rated corn in the country right now?

In the latest Crop Progress report, USDA issued the first national corn condition ratings for top producing states. At least 80% of the corn in Pennsylvania, Ohio, South Dakota, North Carolina, North Dakota, and Nebraska rated good/excellent by USDA.

Pennsylvania

The corn in Pennsylvania is the best in the country right now, according to USDA. A remarkable 100% of the state’s corn crop is rated good/excellent. Looking a bit closer at the numbers, Pennsylvania is the state with the greatest percentage of corn in good condition (82%). The state also has the third highest percentage overall of excellent corn at 18%. Only Illinois and Nebraska have greater percentages of excellent corn at 26% and 21%, respectively.

Favorable corn crop conditions were owed at least in part to excellent soil moisture supplies last week for Pennsylvania. Topsoil moisture conditions in the state rated 0% very short, 3% short, 93% adequate, and 4% surplus. Subsoil moisture conditions rated 0% very short, 12% short, 88% adequate, and 0% surplus.

Ohio

For the week ending June 2, USDA rated 84% of Ohio’s corn good/excellent. When looking at the states with at least 80% corn rated good/excellent, Ohio is the only state of the 6 that had any percentage of corn rated very poor. Of the 6, it also had the greatest percentage of corn rated very poor/poor. Overall, USDA rated Ohio corn as follows: 1% very poor, 3% poor, 12% fair, 70% good, and 14% excellent.

Ohio’s soil moisture supplies were mostly adequate but leaned toward surplus last week, which may have been a factor in the 1% very poor and 3% poor corn conditions. Topsoil moisture conditions rated 0% very short, 2% short, 67% adequate, and 31% surplus. Subsoil moisture conditions for the state rated 0% very short, 2% short, 72% adequate, and 26% surplus.

South Dakota 

With 82% good/excellent corn, South Dakota takes spot number 3 for states with the most corn rated good or better. Further, only 1% of the state’s corn rated less than fair. Overall, corn in South Dakota rated 0% very poor, 1% poor, 17% fair, 74% good, and 8% excellent.

According to USDA, South Dakota’s soil moisture supplies rated over three-fourths adequate last week. Specifically, topsoil moisture conditions rated 1% very short, 6% short, 76% adequate, and 17% surplus, while subsoil moisture conditions rated 2% very short, 8% short, 76% adequate, and 14% surplus.

North Carolina 

USDA rated 81% of North Carolina’s corn good/excellent. For the state’s corn conditions overall, 0% rated very poor, 3% rated poor, 16% rated fair, 66% rated good, and 15% rated excellent.

Like the other states with the majority of corn in good/excellent condition, North Carolina’s soil moisture supplies were in relatively good shape last week. Topsoil moisture conditions rated 1% very short, 11% short, 80% adequate, and 8% surplus. Subsoil moisture conditions rated 1% very short, 4% short, 90% adequate, and 5% surplus.

North Dakota

According to USDA, 81% of North Dakota’s corn rated good/excellent. Like South Dakota, only 1% of the state’s corn rated less than fair. As for a specific breakdown of corn conditions for North Dakota, the numbers almost mirror those of South Dakota. USDA rated North Dakota’s corn 0% very poor, 1% poor, 18% fair, 74% good, and 7% excellent. 

The state’s soil moisture was mostly adequate, which contributed to the primarily good/excellent crop. Topsoil moisture conditions rated 1% very short, 7% short, 77% adequate, and 15% surplus. Subsoil moisture conditions rated 1% very short, 9% short, 78% adequate, and 12% surplus.

Nebraska

USDA rated 80% of Nebraska’s corn good/excellent. Of the 6 states with at least 80% good/excellent corn, Nebraska had the greatest percentage of corn rated in the highest category – over a fifth of the state’s corn was in excellent shape as of June 2. Overall, USDA rated Nebraska’s corn as follows: 0% very poor, 2% poor, 18% fair, 59% good, and 21% excellent.

Nebraska’s soil moisture supplies were mostly adequate according to Monday’s report. Topsoil moisture rated 3% very short, 11% short, 74% adequate, and 12% surplus. Subsoil moisture rated 4% very short, 17% short, 70% adequate, and 9% surplus.